I want a bad ass hardware compressor!

[cbentley]

Bad ass? For $1200 max?

Hard to go wrong with the FMR RNC for the cash.

If you want to step it up a bit try looking for a used Drawmer 1968ME or a Portico 5043. The Portico is a winner on pretty much anything you push through it.

If you only need a mono comp, it's hard to go wrong with a Distressor... pretty much a swiss army knife of the compressor world.

As for an Alesis 3630, I know some people love 'em for their dirt but other than for effect I'd avoid it.

[lunabass]

i always thought the 3630 sounded horrible...

i'd go a RNC...cant go wrong for the money

[willdahbe]

Bad ass? For $1200 max?

Hard to go wrong with the FMR RNC for the cash.

If you want to step it up a bit try looking for a used Drawmer 1968ME or a Portico 5043. The Portico is a winner on pretty much anything you push through it.

If you only need a mono comp, it's hard to go wrong with a Distressor... pretty much a swiss army knife of the compressor world.

As for an Alesis 3630, I know some people love 'em for their dirt but other than for effect I'd avoid it.

yeah as i started looking a bit further into it compressors are not cheap at all... just might have to step it up a bit. i just want to sit with a bad motha and tweak some drums/bass for hours on end!

[cbentley]

Bad ass? For $1200 max?

Hard to go wrong with the FMR RNC for the cash.

If you want to step it up a bit try looking for a used Drawmer 1968ME or a Portico 5043. The Portico is a winner on pretty much anything you push through it.

If you only need a mono comp, it's hard to go wrong with a Distressor... pretty much a swiss army knife of the compressor world.

As for an Alesis 3630, I know some people love 'em for their dirt but other than for effect I'd avoid it.

yeah as i started looking a bit further into it compressors are not cheap at all... just might have to step it up a bit. i just want to sit with a bad motha and tweak some drums/bass for hours on end!

I also meant to add that the Portico and 1968ME go for around $1200 used and sometimes a bit cheaper.

Although several people might differ with my opinion on this, there is something about the sound of a great hardware compressor that you simply can't get in software (even though I use software compression as well).

[The Carpet Cleaner]

For software compressor, what's wrong with the Live's compressor, is the diiference with, let's say, UAD compressor that big?
Can I make a "commercial" track (a hit!) with inbuild Live's effects?

[KU]

I've used this ART Pro VLA very successfully on drums... it cost me $65 on Craigslist



Its a tube leveling amp. I load my Machinedrum up with old slingerland samples and drench it in reverb, then put it through this thing. It definitely adds the GLUE.

as far as plugins... you should really check out the Chandler LTD EMI stuff. This is easiest, best sounding plugin I have ever used.

[liveISlife]

http://www.fugly.com/flash/787/Ass_Master.html

I AM ASS MASTER!

[D K]

i might be selling these to get some full channel strips w/pres:

they are in perfect working order.
pm me if interested.

[SubFunk]

For software compressor, what's wrong with the Live's compressor, is the diiference with, let's say, UAD compressor that big?
Can I make a "commercial" track (a hit!) with inbuild Live's effects?

to both questions, YES. the difference is massive and you can make a hit with live's compressor. a hit does not mean at all that it has to sound good or sound the way you want it to, many hits are shite. hits are for the masses and the mass is pure shit.

and lives plugs are all usable but are all very average stuff, too. they don't have anything bad, but none of there plugs has a WOW! effect either...

i love live so much, but there plugs never really got me, opposite to Logic's which have a WOW! effect big time for me.

and please no discussion about lives plugs regarding there quality.

[funky shit]

For software compressor, what's wrong with the Live's compressor, is the diiference with, let's say, UAD compressor that big?
Can I make a "commercial" track (a hit!) with inbuild Live's effects?

to both questions, YES. the difference is massive and you can make a hit with live's compressor. a hit does not mean at all that it has to sound good or sound the way you want it to, many hits are shite. hits are for the masses and the mass is pure shit.

and lives plugs are all usable but are all very average stuff, too. they don't have anything bad, but none of there plugs has a WOW! effect either...

i love live so much, but there plugs never really got me, opposite to Logic's which have a WOW! effect big time for me.

and please no discussion about lives plugs regarding there quality.

Except Redux.
that things is amazing when running different synths through it.

[3dot...]

For software compressor, what's wrong with the Live's compressor, is the diiference with, let's say, UAD compressor that big?
Can I make a "commercial" track (a hit!) with inbuild Live's effects?

to both questions, YES. the difference is massive and you can make a hit with live's compressor. a hit does not mean at all that it has to sound good or sound the way you want it to, many hits are shite. hits are for the masses and the mass is pure shit.

and lives plugs are all usable but are all very average stuff, too. they don't have anything bad, but none of there plugs has a WOW! effect either...

i love live so much, but there plugs never really got me, opposite to Logic's which have a WOW! effect big time for me.

and please no discussion about lives plugs regarding there quality.

Except Redux.
that things is amazing when running different synths through it.

...and grain delay..

[The Carpet Cleaner]

ok guys, I think I get it
I personally like the multi-compressor, it gives me that wow effect even if I don't understand how it works (yet! ) .

[djsynchro]

i might be selling these to get some full channel strips w/pres:

they are in perfect working order.
pm me if interested.

The LA2A and LA3A use tubes and discrete transistors respectively and both sound great. The LA4 uses an old quad op-amp (IC) and because of it has a high-frequency problem but they can be upgraded. http://www.tangible-technology.com/opti ... rticle.htm They all use the T4 optical compression element; a luminescent panel (night light!) shining on a photocell, no attack and release controls, gentle compression perfect for vocals, though not the most aggressive sound there is.
The LA4 has a ratio control which the LA2A and LA3A don't have. The LA4A is electronically balanced and doesn't use in and output transformers (the LA2A and LA3A do) transformers are known for creating pleasant audio artefacts.

[D K]

i might be selling these to get some full channel strips w/pres:

they are in perfect working order.
pm me if interested.

The LA2A and LA3A use tubes and discrete transistors respectively and both sound great. The LA4 uses an old quad op-amp (IC) and because of it has a high-frequency problem but they can be upgraded. http://www.tangible-technology.com/opti ... rticle.htm They all use the T4 optical compression element; a luminescent panel (night light!) shining on a photocell, no attack and release controls, gentle compression perfect for vocals, though not the most aggressive sound there is.
The LA4 has a ratio control which the LA2A and LA3A don't have. The LA4A is electronically balanced and doesn't use in and output transformers (the LA2A and LA3A do) transformers are known for creating pleasant audio artefacts.

aggressive as shit at 12:1, imho..... awesome on drum buss, for example. the optional ratios have very different characteristics in their attack sonically....
vocals are nice, but not my favorite use for these.
much better for busier program information.
the lack of artifacts is great, i have other units (distressors, for example) for that....
read a lot about the high-end "problem" but have yet to find any issue...
they sound awesome as they are. what is the issue that you mention, to your ear?
they can be much more dark than my other units.... thankfully....
actually, thinking on that, i take back my previous post, i'll be keeping them....

[willdahbe]

well after this search of compressors i ended up buying a little phatty. despite the name it's heavy, and not that small, (compared to 49 keys). tis a beast! envelopes are not as fast as i thought they would be, but it's really easy to tune in some classic bass and lead sounds that would otherwise take forever on a vst or va. defiantly makes you want to actually play rather than click, ya know? anyways i'll wait till my productions need some compression after notation gets there.

p.s. the little phatty + saturator set to waveshaper w/ color on = pure bliss!